20 February 2017
The Life and Soul of the Party Wall Act - top tips on how to maintain a good relationship with your neighbours
As London property prices continue to climb, home owners and developers are constantly on the lookout for new ways to extract additional value from every square foot. The traditionally favoured methods have been to extend out, or upwards, and statistics show such developments are still booming. In March 2015, City A.M reported that there were over 250 towers of 20-storeys or more going through the planning approval process in London. However, the latest trend in some of London’s most affluent neighbourhoods – where space is at a premium and both practical and planning hurdles prevent major development above – is going underground.
2 February 2017
Renting out your home or buy to let property on Airbnb could land you in hot water with your mortgage lender
Some of our recent articles have highlighted important issues that need to be considered when you list your home for rent on Airbnb. In this final part of our Airbnb trilogy, we cover what mortgage lenders think of the growing practice of using websites like Airbnb.
1 February 2017
Are you a “responsible” host? Airbnb enforces 90 night annual limit for London hosts
Since its launch in 2008, Airbnb has gone on to be one of the defining figures in what has come to be known as the “sharing economy”. But with this increased presence and power, comes greater responsibility and Airbnb are under increasing pressure to uphold and also enforce current laws regulating the short-term rental market.
18 January 2017
Check your lease before you list for Airbnb – a warning of the pitfalls of leasehold covenants
Airbnb has become a worldwide platform for home owners to generate an extra income stream. The ability to jet away on a tropical holiday and let your home out for a fee or (for those fortunate enough to own more than one home) to let out your additional homes at short term intervals, is certainly attractive. However, whether or not such lettings are legal, or whether they breach any covenants restricting the property, is rarely considered when listing for Airbnb.
20 December 2016
Immigration Act 2016: Government tackling illegal migration or passing the buck?
On 1st December 2016 the Government introduced provisions 39, 40 and 41 of the Immigration Act 2016 targeting residential landlords who fail to comply with their right to rent obligations. The reason for carrying out these checks is because they give the landlord a statutory excuse against a civil penalty (a fine) if it later turns out that the person does not have permission to be in the UK.